The forest decision-making paradigm in the West has shifted over time, with collaborative models having become institutionalized in the contemporary era. However, other elements beyond collaborative decision-making are needed for successful forest restoration. In this presentation, I will provide insights from restoration endeavors across the West to highlight the issues of local legitimacy and capacity that are often crucial to forest restoration success. Legitimacy is enhanced through the involvement of credible intermediaries, the incorporation of local knowledge, and the authority to adapt broad rules to the local context. Capacity includes not only the physical infrastructure to generate economic benefits from restoration but also the organizational infrastructure needed to navigate complex institutional settings and to fill critical gaps in the public, private, and civil society sectors. The development of these capacities and authorities may be an important strategy for “matching” ecological and social systems in western forests.